CHECK IT OUT

Students headed for higher learning will inevitably face a maze of

tests, catalogs and forms. To light the path, head for college and

university information sources at Newport Beach public libraries.

Teens can set the groundwork for university study by improving

reading, test-taking and vocabulary skills with help from “Prepare for

College.” Authors Marjorie Eberts and Margaret Gisler place equal

emphasis on maximizing the high school experience and organizing the

college admissions process in this guide for university-bound students.

More detailed information about U.S. colleges is in “College Handbook

2001,” a comprehensive listing from The College Board. Use this bible of

college description guides to research requirements, deadlines, costs,

majors, housing and other details about more than 3,600 institutions

throughout the nation.

Uncover a wealth of additional data about undergraduate, graduate and

professional degree programs at U.S. colleges in numerous Peterson’s

guides. Separate volumes cover colleges offering two- and four-year

programs, as well as those that use the Internet, cable TV and

videoconferencing for higher learning.

For students seeking financial aid, more than 800,000 awards and

prizes amounting to more than $2.5 billion of academic funding are listed

in “Peterson’s Scholarships, Grants & Prizes.” Find awards available to

all students regardless of college attended, along with eligibility

requirements and contact information, in this comprehensive overview of

undergraduate scholarships.

Those aspiring to athletic scholarships will be well-served by Hilary

Abramson’s “Student Athlete’s Guide to College,” aimed at those

interested in competing in NCAA sports. Help with navigating the

recruiting process, eligibility rules and information on how to attract

the attention of college coaches are included in this Princeton Review

volume.

Applicants can learn how to best shine on paper in “How to Write a

Winning College Application Essay.” Using actual student compositions,

Michael James Mason illustrates what works and what doesn’t in his

summation of how to present a written profile that will impress

university admissions officers.

Once accepted into college, scholars may want to broaden their

cultural experience by following prompts from “Academic Year Abroad

2000/2001.” The Institute of International Education provides 600-plus

pages of indexed data on costs, fields of study and contact information

for more than 2,600 programs in this guide to study in other nations.

Additional print and electronic resources for college-bound students

are listed in “Pathfinder: College & University Information Sources,”

available at all libraries. Research paths also are included in the teen

center link at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.

There’s light at the end of the higher learning tunnel, and it shines

in “Congratulations! Now What?” In this book for graduates by Bill Cosby,

the comic legend takes a witty look at the joys and frustrations of

campus life and offers real world advice about life beyond the university

classroom.

* CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public

Library. This week’s column is by Melissa Adams, in collaboration with

Terri Wiest. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by

accessing the catalog at https://www.newportbeachlibrary.org.